Add-Ons, Shmadd-Ons...

[pierski]

Last week, Toshiba announced that they are giving up on the HD DVD. Thus bringing an end the format war. For everyone who chose HD DVD, I'm sorry. The correct answer was Blu Ray... Blu Ray. But thanks for playing.

It's cool that we now have a definitive format. It sucks for everyone on the wrong side... sorry. At least companies no longer have to worry whether or not they chose the right kind of high definition disc. With that said, here's hoping that they actually start putting some anime on Blu Ray that I haven't had in my collections forever.

[freakdood]

I almost bought the HD DVD drive for the 360 last week...

Almost.

My god I would of looked like an idiot. I remember microsoft saying that they would consider making a Blu Ray DVD add on if HD DVD failed. Looks like I'll be waiting for that...

FURST!

[The Anarchyz]

Yay, now i can buy for sure my copy of Pirates on Blu-Ray (and not the Disney one)

Seriously, i saw Sony intentions since day one, why risk throwing a console with losses when one year later they could throw it and the heavy game developers would be ready for it??? Because they were not after M$ or Nintendo, they were after Toshiba and the HD-DVD... It was a smart move, now they won the format war and every PS3 sell is making profit now, and the heavy exclusives are almost ready...

M$ was smart too not putting integrated HD-DVD if that was not their propietary format, in addition M$ developed VC-1 and it's a mandatory format in the Blu-Ray & HD-DVD, so they had a win-win situation...

[pierski]

Got to admit though, if the 360 would have been equipped with an HD DVD player instead of a DVD player this whole format war would still be going on.

[Greiver]

I am still getting over the whole rollback to play the Originals on the 360, although I am glad I never purchased the HD drive...Damn microsoft...

[pierski]

I am glad I never purchased the HD drive...Damn microsoft...

In all honesty, Microsoft never did really care about the HD DVD. If they did, they would have pushed a lot harder and played hardball. At the end of the day, I think Bill felt the payoff just wasn't worth the time nor effort.

[General WX]

Score 1 for Sony.

Now make a comic advertising the forums. With jab and vally gone, we need fresh blood.

[pierski]

Are they really gone or just not posting as much?

[General WX]

Are they really gone or just not posting as much?

They post minimally. I never thought I'd say it, but I miss them.

[hybridial]

I'm skipping Blu Ray unless they stop doing DVDs totally and utterly, which I think won't happen, at least not long before Blu Ray itself is retired by fully integrative media.

[zayus1979]

I'm goddamned tired of new formats... I have an extensive VHS collections that's all but garbage at this point cause when my tierd old VCR finally shits the brick I'm effed, so a few years ago I begin the task of replacing a few cherrished favorites to DVD, you know, Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, the good ones (has the Weekend at Bernies boxed set been released yet,) and now here we are at the start of the eventual downfall and phasing out of DVD! Now VHS had a 20 year run at the top, at this point DVD won't even have 10 years at the top, and how long untill the bigger-better-faster-clearer format comes out, the "def" that provided veiwer with the ability to switch on x-ray and oogle Jessica Alba's simply magnificent body SANS CLOTHES... Suddenly, your Blu-Ray is fucked cause the new boy's in town. Let's find a format we can all agree on and just stick with it. Please.

[pierski]

I'm skipping Blu Ray unless they stop doing DVDs totally and utterly, which I think won't happen, at least not long before Blu Ray itself is retired by fully integrative media.

I can't agree with that theory. It took a while for DVDs to push VHS off of the shelves. I think its still going to take a while for Blu Ray to accomplish the same thing.

As far as fully integrative media, it's still too difficult for your average person to move digital movies from one place to another. I don't believe the ease, affordability or the security (from the manufacturers POV) will be there anytime soon.

[hybridial]

I'm skipping Blu Ray unless they stop doing DVDs totally and utterly, which I think won't happen, at least not long before Blu Ray itself is retired by fully integrative media.

I can't agree with that theory. It took a while for DVDs to push VHS off of the shelves. I think its still going to take a while for Blu Ray to accomplish the same thing.

Yes. Too long a while. Your not taking into account the fact that that length of time is likely to render Blu Ray itself obsolete.

We're at an age where with technology, everything is "soon". Give it 3-4 years and I bet Blu Ray won't be worth much more then than HD DVD itself is now.

What hurts Blu Ray, badly, is the fact that there are many like me who don't see the point. The difference in picture clarity isn't as big a deal as it was from VHS to DVD. And since it's likely most of the animes I like will be deemed to old to release on a new format, and as I barely ever buy movies on DVD, chances are when I get a PS3 a movie will not be played in it, only games.

I'd compare that to Audio DVDs. You get them, but everyone just sticks with CD's because the DVDs don't offer a big enough improvement in quality to be much worth it.

[pierski]

Is an audio DVD really a fair comparison?

I'm doing the whole Blu Ray thing and trust me, it is harder to watch DVDs now as you can see the difference. True, VHS to DVD was a huge difference. But DVD to newer movies (ie. Pirates of the Caribbean) that are filmed with higher quality cameras... the difference is huge. I'm picking up Justice League: New Frontier on Blu Ray tonight. I will then have a true vision of a 2D animation on the format. Ratatouille looks awesome, but it's 3D. Justice League will be a good test.

[General WX]

If you have a decent TV, you really can see a major difference between DVD and Blu-Ray. Go down to your local Best Buy, they should have a side by side comparison.